Half of the Scottish businesses plan to improve workplace inclusivity

MORE than half of the businesses in Scotland intend to introduce new training programmes and policies to increase workplace inclusion in the next six months.

According to Bank of Scotland’ research, 31 per cent of companies intend to prioritise training their employees on diversity and inclusion in order to create a more welcoming workplace.

A comparable percentage (27 per cent) plan to have a more diversified workforce, while five per cent want to implement more flexible work schedules.

But Bank of Scotland owned by Lloyd’s Banking Group also found out that many businesses will need external assistance and guidance to carry out their strategies.

More than a fifth (23 per cent) said financial incentives from the government would help with their efforts towards creating a more inclusive workforce, and nearly one-third (29 per cent) said businesses need access to specialised HR skills.

Chris Lawrie, area director for Scotland at Bank of Scotland, said: “It’s great to see that so many businesses across the country are prioritising creating a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the world we live in. Businesses with workforces that truly reflect our communities are often the ones that thrive.

“We all have a responsibility to work together to build environments where all colleagues can prosper. By becoming allies and celebrating each other’s successes, we can empower each other and unlock the fantastic benefits that a more diverse and inclusive workplaces create.”

The survey was carried out between February 1 and 15th, was conducted among 1,200 UK enterprises, including 100 in Scotland, across all industrial sectors, geographic regions, and firm sizes, with annual revenue of more than £250,000.